A gender-based analysis of ICT adoption and usage in South Africa

Abstract:

Ample evidence exists that suggests that Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT’s) access and usage is structured along gender lines
where social, economic, education barriers as well as attitudes impact
negatively on female adoption and usage of ICT’s. Further, the ability to
communicate and or own an ICT gadget is heavily reliant on disposable
income and affordability (Hafkin, 2002).
By investigating gender adoption and usage patterns of ICT’s, South Africa
stands an opportunity to gather important data critical to circumvent possible
negative aspects of gender difference in adoption and usage. According to
Huyer, S., and Hafkin, N., (2007), “gender in relation to ICT use and access
remains largely an uncharted domain” (Huyer & Hafkin, 2007, p.36).
The report uses available ICT data covering between year 2005 to 2010 and
the 2007 ICT access and usage survey data is the primary source for the key
findings of the report. Key findings of the report suggest that no gender
difference exists in adoption and usage of ICT’s in South Africa. However
higher incomes, more advanced education, being young and living in an
urban location increases adoption and usage. Thus, given the existing gender
disparities in income and education and the location of a large proportion of
the female population in rural areas, the analysis found that females are
disadvantaged with respect to broad ICT access and usage beyond mobile
voice communications. While ICT adoption cannot on its own address the
broad challenges of socio-economic development, gender-based policy and
regulation is necessary to unlock heightened ICT usage by women as a
contributing factor to development.